Camilla Jessen
American nuclear-capable bomber flies 50 km from Russia.
A US B-52H Stratofortress conducted a rare and aggressive training mission over Finland and Estonia, practicing strike operations close to Russia’s border, according to a statement from the Finnish Air Force.
The flight formed part of a wider US-NATO exercise involving multiple European allies and simulated operations in “high-threat” conditions.
The maneuver marked one of the closest B-52 training approaches to Russian territory in recent months.
Simulated strike run
During the November sortie, the B-52H rehearsed attack scenarios at Finland’s Sotipuro training range, located in the country’s east near the Russian border.
The Finnish Air Force said the bomber was escorted by F/A-18 Hornet fighters while operating in Finnish airspace.
After completing the strike simulation, the aircraft flew into Estonian airspace, approaching to roughly 50 kilometers from Russia.
Over Estonia, British Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons took over escort duties. NATO also deployed an E-3A Sentry airborne early-warning aircraft to monitor the airspace during the operation.
The flight underscored the growing military coordination between the US, Finland and other northern European partners following Finland’s entry into NATO.
NATO exercise intensifies
US Air Forces in Europe previously confirmed the arrival of three B-52H strategic bombers at Morón Air Base in Spain.
The aircraft, transferred from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, are participating in multilateral drills with Finland, Sweden, Lithuania and several other allies.
According to the US command, the missions involve training in environments designed to mimic “high-threat” scenarios.
Officials said such deployments help bomber crews refine rapid-response tactics and reinforce the alliance’s deterrent posture along NATO’s eastern flank and in the Arctic region.
These operations come as NATO continues to expand surveillance and maritime activity in the Baltic Sea amid heightened tensions with Russia.
Baltic Sea buildup
At the end of September, NATO increased its presence around Russia’s Kaliningrad region.
Norway confirmed that at least three US Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft — capable of anti-submarine warfare and anti-ship operations — had been stationed at Oslo’s Gardermoen Airport.
On September 28, flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 showed one Poseidon aircraft conducting prolonged patrols over Baltic Sea waters near Kaliningrad, home to a major Russian Baltic Fleet base.
Norway’s military described the mission as part of wider “supporting allied actions” in the region.
Sources: Finnish Air Force; US Air Forces in Europe; Norwegian Armed Forces statements; Digi24
This article is made and published by Camilla Jessen, who may have used AI in the preparation
